Jazz & Prose is honored to shine a light on Dr. Natasha Gordon-Chipembere, a trailblazing author, academic, and storyteller whose passion for illuminating African Diasporic history has captivated readers around the globe. Her latest novel, Finding La Negrita, is a breathtaking piece of historical fiction that reimagines Costa Rica’s Black Madonna narrative through the lens of Black free and enslaved characters in colonial Costa Rica. As a professor, writer, and advocate for underrepresented voices, Gordon-Chipembere’s journey to publication reveals a deep commitment to the stories she tells and the communities they represent.

Born in New York to Costa Rican and Panamanian parents, Gordon-Chipembere’s roots have always influenced her work. She credits her childhood dream of becoming a writer to Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, where she found a kindred spirit in Jo March. This early inspiration, paired with her academic training, led her to historical fiction—a genre that bridges her passion for storytelling with her scholarly expertise.

Her professional accolades are as vast as they are impressive: a Ph.D. in African Diasporic literature, the author of Representation and Black Womanhood: The Legacy of Sarah Baartman, a senior editor for the AfroLatin@ Diasporas Book Series with Palgrave, and founder of the renowned Tengo Sed Writing Retreats for BIPOC writers in Costa Rica. Despite these accomplishments, Gordon-Chipembere remains grounded, describing her transition from academia to fiction as a lifelong dream finally realized.

Finding La Negrita was born out of years of meticulous research and a personal curiosity about Costa Rica’s veneration of a Black Madonna in a society that often emphasizes its European ancestry. Set in 1634, the novel unfolds in the former colonial capital of Cartago, weaving a narrative of love, freedom, sacrifice, and family through the lives of four Black protagonists. “I wanted an intergenerational story and an Africanist perspective of Costa Rica’s Black Madonna story,” Gordon-Chipembere shares.

Her research process took her from the archives of the British Library and the Schomburg Center for Black Research to the National Library and Archives of Costa Rica. She walked the streets of Cartago, studied colonial-era maps, and immersed herself in the physical and cultural landscapes of 17th-century Costa Rica. These efforts culminated in a vivid and authentic portrayal of a world rarely explored in literature.

However, the road to publication was far from easy. Gordon-Chipembere’s manuscript faced numerous rejections, as publishers struggled to see the “market potential” of a story centered on Black free and enslaved people in colonial Costa Rica. Despite these challenges, she persevered, ultimately finding a home for her book with Jaded Ibis Press in 2021. Her partnership with acquisitions editor Lisa Pegram ensured that her vision remained intact, with only minor edits made to the manuscript.

Since its release in 2022, Finding La Negrita has garnered critical acclaim, winning the Silver IPPY Award for Best Historical Fiction in 2023 and earning a nomination for the prestigious Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. Readers and critics alike have praised the novel’s depth, authenticity, and emotional resonance. To amplify her book’s reach, Gordon-Chipembere has engaged in a tireless promotional campaign, collaborating with a publicity team and participating in over 40 interviews, book talks, and events.

The novel is available in paperback and e-book formats on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and through her publisher’s website. For readers seeking an intimate glimpse into the story, Gordon-Chipembere invites them to explore sample chapters and additional materials on her website.

Beyond Finding La Negrita, Gordon-Chipembere is already laying the groundwork for her next project: an Afro-Costa Rican trilogy. The second installment, tentatively titled 1710, will delve into the true story of two Danish slave ships that wrecked off the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, leaving 550 African survivors to shape the region’s history. “I see my career as an author evolving in ways that continue to center underrepresented stories,” she says.

Through her writing, Gordon-Chipembere hopes to invite readers into the rich, complex, and often untold history of Black Costa Rica. She connects with her audience through social media, campus visits, panel discussions, book clubs, and more. Her ultimate goal is to ensure that the voices of Afro-descendant communities are heard and celebrated.

At Jazz & Prose, we believe in cultivating a space where all readers can find stories that resonate with their hearts and minds. Natasha Gordon-Chipembere’s work exemplifies this mission, offering a profound exploration of identity, resilience, and history. We encourage you to dive into Finding La Negrita and join her on this remarkable literary journey. Click here to buy on Amazon!

Stay connected with Dr.Natasha Gordon- Chipembere. 

IG@natashagordonchipembere

www.natashagordonchipembere.com